School System Vacancies Filled

SIMSBURY — An assistant superintendent and a Latimer Lane school principal have been hired, filling key vacancies in the town's school system after a three-month search.

Scott Shuler, a curriculum consultant for the state Department of Education, will become assistant superintendent Dec. 1.

He replaces Michael Cicchetti, who has accepted a position as the superintendent of the Berlin school system.

Grace Morris, the assistant principal of Squadron Line School, will become the principal of Latimer Lane School on Dec. 1. She replaces Laurie Sinder, who left the district to become a principal in Durham.

Schuler has extensive experience in education. He started his career teaching music in 1976 in Delaware and spent five years as the director of an instrumental music program in Wisconsin. Before coming to Connecticut, Shuler was a professor and music coordinator at California State University. He became a curriculum consultant for the state in 1988.

Shuler has a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan, a master's degree from the University of Illinois and a doctorate in academic administration from the University of Rochester.

``Scott is a real home run for this district,'' said Diane Ullman, the superintendent.

Before becoming an administrator, Morris taught for 20 years in the district's elementary schools, as a kindergarten, first- and second-grade and special education teacher.

She has bachelor's and master's degrees from Southern Connecticut State University. In 2004, she earned a sixth-year certificate from the University of Connecticut.

``It's so wonderful when you find somebody in your own district who has all the skills you're looking for,'' Ullman said.